Sequential chart display device



Nov. 28, 1961 Filed July 50. 1958 W. W. WELLS EI'AL SEQUENTIAL CHARTDISPLAY DEVICE f I/I m Tner l H L 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TORS ATTORNEYSNov. 28, 1961 w. w. WELLS ErAL 3,010,233

SEQUENTIAL CHART DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 30. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 45@i if l'l I/ 7&/6

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ATTORNEYS Nov. 28, 1961 w. w. WELLS Em. $010,233

SEQUENTIAL CHART DISPLAY DEVICE 3 Sheets-Shel. 3

Filled July 50, 1958 INVENToRs P71! lian ZV." VeZf ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Filed July 30, 1958, Ser. No. 752,041 4 Claims. (Cl. 40-36) lThisinvention relates to a chart display device, and more particularly to adevice which displays a plurality of charts sequentially, eitherautomatically or semi-automatically. The term chart is used genericallyto denote any type of display in the form of a lcard or sheet, such aspictures, maps, diagrams, or advertising material.

Sequential chart display devices are well known, but the machinesemployed heretofore have not had the desired reliability andversatility. The apparatus of the present invention permits the displayof a series of charts, advancing the charts one-by-one to a displayposition and returning each chart to the end of the series after it hasbeen displayed. It is accordingly a principal object of the invention toprovide an improved device of this type.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of theaforesaid type which employs a unique chart advancing or transferringmechanism that is positive acting and reliable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unique and improvedmechanism for lowering, guiding, and lifting display charts.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of theforegoing type which may be readily operated automatically orsemi-automatically.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of theforegoing type which may be readily operated by remote control.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of theforegoing type which affords audiov accompaniment of the chart display.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention and the manner in which the same are accomplished will becomemore readily apparent upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of the invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred and exemplaryembodiment of the invention, and wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view illustrating the overall appearance ofthe device of the invention in its cabinet;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE3;

. FIGURES 5a through 5d are truncated vertical sectional views similarto FIGURE 2 illustrating the manner of operation of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the inyention; and

FIGURE 7 is a diagram of a circuit which may be employed in theinvention.

Briefly stated, the device ofthe invention comprises arent O apparatusfor supporting, displaying and advancing a Y 3,010,233 Patented Nov. 28,1961 ice series of charts. This apparatus is housed in a cabinet havingan opening through which the charts are viewed, and in the preferredform the cabinet also contains an audio tape repeater, a timer, andelectrical components including switches for controlling theenergization of a motor which drives the mechanism for advancing thecharts.

Referring to the drawings, the device of the invention is preferablyhoused in and includes a cabinet 10 of generally rectangular shape, thecabinet having an opening 12 through its front wall 13 to permit theviewing of a plurality of charts 14 in sequence. The device of theinvention is preferably a self-contained unit which may be powered froma conventional volt A.C. outlet and is preferably made mobile throughthe provision of suitable rollers or casters (not shown). As illustratedin FIGURE l, the cabinet may be provided with suitable handles 16 to aidin the movement of the invention from place to place, and the cabinetmay have a conventional ventilating grill 18 as shown.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3, and 4, the charts 14, whichY preferablyare placed in individual metal frames, are supported on an upper track20 which may be in the form of a pair of rails mounted adjacent Vthefront Wall of the cabinet at'its respective sides. As shown in FIGURE 2,the track is generally inclined downwardly and forwardly, has anupwardly extending forward lip 22, and a downwardly extending terminalportion 24 Terminal portion 24 curves smoothly around from the rearextremity of the major portion of the track rails and ends in a shortforwardly extending lip as shown, The charts 14 are arranged in a risingseries from the front to the rear of the upper track 20, and the firstchart in the series is held back at its bottom by the lip 22 and at itstop by a projection 26 which extends rearwardly from an inner front wall28 having an opening 30 aligned with opening 12. The main front wall 15may be hinged as at 32 to permit access to the apparatus at the front ofthe cabinet. of the fluorescent type, are mounted along the upper andlower extremities of the openings 12 and 30, being supported on theinner frontwall 28. These lamps provide the necessary illumination forviewing the charts 14.

Charts 14 are urged forwardly by a follower arm 38 pivotally supportedby a rod 40 on brackets 42 mounted on horizontal supports 44 attached tothe sides of the cabinet. The follower arm 38 is biased against therearmost chart 14 by a torsion spring 46 which is wound about the pivotrod 4t) and has its extremities attached, respectively, to the followerarm and a transverse framing member 45.

Near the bottom of the cabinet is a lower track 48 in the form of a pairof guide rails which extend from the inner front wall 28 and curverearwardly and downwardly. As will be seen hereinafter, the lower trackserves to guide the lower edge of the chart which has just beendisplayed to the rear of an elevator generally designated 50. l

In the form shown, the elevator comprises a generally U-shaped verticalplate 52 (FIG. 3) which supports a pair of spaced forwardly extendingtrays 54 adjacent its lower extremity. The plate l52 may have a forwardlip 56 (FIG. 2) to aid in the support of the trays 54 in cantileverfashion, Vand the trays are preferably positioned Lamps 34 and 36,preferably slightly inward from the side walls of the cabinet as shownin FIGURE 3L Each tray may have a rear wall attached to the plate 52, abottom wall supported by the lip 56, and a pair of side walls 58 whichslope downwardly and forwardly as shown in FIGURE 2. The side walls havea horizontal plateau 60 at their rear extremities and an upwardlyextending projection 62 at their forward extremities. The upper edge ofprojections 52 slopes downwardly and forwardly as shown.

The elevator plate 52 has angular side members 64 as shown in FIGURE 4.These members are nested within angular vertical guide rails 66supported on the side walls of the cabinet and are guided by the matingsides of these rails as well as the rear edges of vertical guide plates68, which are attached to the sides of the cabinet andthe exposed sidesurfaces of which serve to guide and position the charts 14 byengagement with their corresponding side edges.

To the rear surface of elevator plate 52 is attached a U-shaped bracket70. Bracket 70 has a horizontal slot 72 (FIG. 3) which receives a pin 74movable along the slot. The pin is of such diameter as to move freelywithin the slot `and yet is suitably headed to prevent withdrawal of thepin from the slot. As shown in FIG- URE 4, the pin is attached to alug,76 which is in turn afxed to a link of an endless chain 78. Chain 78passes over an upper sprocket wheel 80 and a lower sprocketwheel y82,the plane of the wheel and chain unit being vertical andrparallel to thefront and rear walls of the cabinet. Sprocket wheel 80 is rotatablysupported on a bracket 84 mounted on the framing member 45 as shown inFIGURE 2, and sprocket wheel 82 is rotatably Vmounted on a bracket86which is supported on the bottom of thecabinet as shown in FIGURES 2and 3. Bracket 86 may form a part of the mounting for an electric motor88'best seen in FIGURE 2. Motor 88 drives the lower sprocket wheel 82,which in turn drives the chain 78 and the upper sprocket wheel 80. Thechain carries the pin 74 as described above, and the pin follows thepath of the chain. Inmoving upwardly or downwardly, the pin carries withit the bracket 70, and of course the attached plate 52 as well as thetrays A54, all of which constitute the elevator. The lateral movement ofthe pin in passing over the sprocket wheels is accommodated by the slot72 and is not transmitted to the elevator.

Supported on the rear surface of the Yelevator plate 52'isa pair oflevers 90, one of which is illustrated in FIGURE 6.' Each of the levershas a horizontal portion 92 which serves to mount the lever pivotally ina journal block 94 fixed to the plate 52, a rearwardly extendingVoperating arm 96, and a forward extension 98 which supports a bumper100. The bumpers 100 extend'fo-rwardly through slots102 in plate 52 asshown in FIG- URE 3. The operating arms 96 are adapted to engagepins'104 which are fixed to and extend inwardly from the side walls ofthe cabinet at appropriate locations as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

Two additional levers 106 are supported at the bottom of the cabinetadjacent the inner front wall 28. levers extend upwardly from journalblocks 108 in which they are pivotally mounted and are biased againstthe front wall 28 by torsion springs 110, which extend from the journalblocks 108 and engage the levers as shown. Each leverhas an upwardlyextending rearwardly curved operating arm 112 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) whichis adapted to engage the bottom of the corresponding tray 54 of theelevator.V Each lever also has a chart-engaging portion 114, which maybe horizontally directed as shown in FIGURE 3. Portions 114 Vmay beaccommodated in appropriate receptacles 116 in the front wall 28.

A typical energization circuit for the motor 88 is shown in FIGURE 7.The motor is arranged to be supplied from a conventionalrpower outlet atterminals 118, one

minal is connected to a main single pole single throw switch 120 whichleads to the blade of a single pole double throw switch 122. As shown,the upper contact of switch 122 may be designated the Vmanual contactand the lower contact may be designated the automatic contact. Themanual contact is connected to a manual switch 124, which may be asimple push button switch as shown. Switch 124 is connected -to terminal88h of the motor.

The automatic terminal of the switch 122 is connected to a micro-switch126 which is arranged to be operated by a timer 128.' Timer 128 ispreferably of the conventional electrically driven clock type and mayhave a cycle adjustable from 6 to 28 seconds, for example. The timer maybe located in an upper portion of the cabinet as shown in FIGURE 3.Micro-switch 126 is also con nected to terminal 88h of the motor. Thisterminal of the motor is connected through another micro-switch 130 andthrough main switch 120 to one side of the power supply. Micro-switch130 is arranged to be actuated by pin 74 on the chain and may besupported on the framing member 45 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

In the operation of the device of the invention, the charts 14 arestacked on the upper track 20 as shown in FIGURE 2. Follower arm 38 maybe pushed back against the bias of its spring to permit the placement ofthe charts. The track may beV reached by opening the front of thecabinet, `which may have portions of the side walls of the cabinetmovable therewith. The rear wall of the cabinet may also be divided andhinged at 132. When the charts have been stacked on the upper track andthe follower arm 38 released, the chartsland follower arm will assumethe positions illustrated in'FIG- URE 2. The frontmost chart will bevisible through the aligned openings 12 and 30 and will be illuminatedby the light from lamps 34 and 36. Y

These y of which may be directly connected to one terminal 88a Toadvance the charts manually (actually semiautomatically), switch 124 maybe closed I(the main line sm'tch 120 being closed first). Assuming thatswitch 122 is in its manual position, an energization circuit for themotor 88 will be completed from one terminal of the power supply 118through switches 120 and 122, switch 124, the motor 88 and back to thepower supply. A previous cycle of operation will have left the elevatorin such position that the pin 74 engages the switch 130, causing theswitch to open. In this condition the trays 54 are located well belowthe level of the upper track 20 as shown in FIGURE 5a. When the motor isenergized, it will turn the chain 78 so as to'move the trays 54upwardly, releasing switch Y and permitting it to close. The closure ofswitch 130 will complete a holding circuit for the motor 88, and switch124 may be released. During the time that the trays 54 are moving towardthe track 20, the motor 88 will reach full operating speed. When thetrays are near the upper limits of Vtheir travel, the projections `62will engage the lower edge of the chart 14 in display position and willraise this chart above the lip 22 of the upper track as shown in FIGURE5b. Due to the forward force exerted by the follower arm 38 and due tothe slope of the upper edges of the projections 62, the chart will belifted over the lip 22, and when through continued operation of thechain 78, the trays 54 start to descend, the chart will descend withthem, being supported on the projections 62 as shown by the dash linesin FIGURE 5b. The 'chart carried by the trays is substantially vertical,being guided by the forward extremity of the track 20 and the matingsurface of the front wall 28. The projection 26 at the top of thecabinet l('FIG. 2) and the lip 22 of the track 20 permit the first chartto be withdrawn from the series without withdrawal of the subsequentcharts. Follower arm 38 urges the charts forwardly so that the nextchart in the series moves against the projection 26 and the lip 22, butthe force exerted by the follower and the successive charts is notsuicient to prevent withdrawalof the rst chart.

When the trays 54 have descended far enough, the lower edge of the chartcarried by the elevator will engage the lower track 58, the trays 54passing between the rails of this track as can be seen from FIGURE 3. Asshown in FIGURE 5c, the chart will then slide along the lower track andbe guided to the rear of the elevator, and the lower edges of the chartwill then rest on the plateaus 60 of the tray side Walls. As the traysdescend below the level of the lower track, as shown by the dash linesin FIGURE 5c, the bottom walls of the trays engage operating arms 112 oflevers v106. This causes pivotal movement of the levers and causes theirupper extremities to engage the front surface of the chart on theelevator and force the chart to a vertical position at the rear of theelevator. lt will be noted from FIGURE 5c that when the chart is forcedagainst the back of the elevator, it displaces the levers 90 which aresupported on the plate 52 of the elevator.

Now the elevator reaches the limit of its descent and commences to rise,carrying the chart with it. When the chart rises, it passes behind therear of the upper track 20, and the rear of the track prevents the chartfrom falling forward when the levers 106 are released and returned totheir forward positions under their spring bias. An additional member134, which may be termed a safety catch, is preferably suspended fromthe bottom of track 20 and extends toward the plane of the rising chartso as to prevent the chart from tilting forward and becoming caughtunder the track.

When the elevator reaches the position illustrated in FIGURE 5d, the pin74 engages the micro-switch 130, opening this switch and breaking themotor circuit. The elevator remains in this position until the motor isnext energized, as by closure of switch 124. When this occurs, theelevator rises past the position illustrated in FIGURE 5d, and theoperating arms 96 of the levers 90 engage the pins 104, causing pivotalmovement of the levers and urging the bumpers 100 against the rearsurface of the chart carried by the elevator. By now the upper portionof the chart has passed between the follower arm 38 and the rearmostchart in the series stacked on the upper track 20, and the movement ofthe levers 90 forces the chart from the trays onto the rear extremity ofthe upper track. At the same time, as the elevator rises it lifts thefirst chart of the series, and the cycle then repeats.

The sequence of operations just described may be termed semi-automatic,requiring the operation of switch 124 for each change of a chart. Switch124 may be attached to the end of a control cable which may be locatedat a suitable distance from the cabinet 10.

The apparatus may also be operated automatically. This is accomplishedby moving switch 122 to the automatic position and by energizing thetimer 128. When the timer is energized, it permits switch 126 to close,thereby completing a circuit for motor 88 from one side of the powersupply at 118, through switches 120 and 122, switch 126, the motor 88,and back to the other side of the power supply. Themotor will now cyclein the manner previously described, closing switch 130 at rst so thatswitch 126 may be opened by the timer and yet the motor energizationcircuit will be maintained. When switch 130 is reopened by the pin 74 onthe chain driven by the motor, the motor circuit will be broken, switch126 having opened previously. The display will remain the same untilsuch time as the timer re-closes switch 126 and commences a new cycle.If the timer is made adjustable, the display time for each chart may beadjusted accordingly. It will be noted, however, that the time requiredto move a chart from vthe beginning of the series to a position adjacentthe end is fixed by the parameters of the elevator mechanism, and thistransfer time is preferably made as short as possible commensurate withreliable operation. v

The visual display provided by the invention as described above may beaccompanied by an automatic sound program. This accompaniment may Ibe'provided by a conventional cartridge type tape repeater indicated by theblock 136 in FIGURE 3, which may include a suitable t-ape transportmechanism, amplier, and loud speaker. The tape repeater is normally usedwhen the operation of the invention is automatic, and the length of timerequired for a complete tape cycle may be chosen so that the taperepeater is synchronized with the operation of the timer, to permit acomplete tape cycle within the time required to display all of thecharts. When semiautomatic operation is employed, the chart display maybe accompanied by the voice of the operator.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the invention provides a uniqueland improved sequential display device. While a preferred embodimenthas been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that changes can be made in this embodiment without departingfrom the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which isdefined in the appended claims. Accordingly, the foregoing embodiment isto be consdered illustrative, rather than restrictive of the invention,and those modifications which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be included there.

The invention claimed is:

l. A sequential chart display device, comprising a cabinet having adisplay opening therein, an upper track in said cabine-t slopingdownwardly and forwardly toward said opening, said upper track having anabutment at its forward extremity to hold the irst of a series of chartsplaced on said track, said abutment being spaced from said opening topermit the first chart to move vertically therebetween, verticallymovable elevator means including chart support means extending alongsaid upper track when said elevator is near its upper point of travel,upward projections on said support lmeans for lifting the rst chart oversaid abutment for causing it to descend between said abutment and saidopening,'a lower track spaced from the upper track and slopingdownwardly and rearwardly in said cabinet for engaging and guiding achart to move to a rearward position on Said chart support, a leveroperated by said elevator for urging the upper portion of said firstchart to the rear of said elevator means when the lower portion of saidchart moves to the rear of the elevator means on said lower track, saidelevator means including means for conveying said chart upwardly and tothe rear of said upper track.

2. A sequential chart display device, comprising a cabinet having adisplay opening therein, an upper track in said cabinet slopingdownwardly and forwardly toward l said opening, said upper track havingan abutment at its forward extremity to hold the first of a series ofcharts placed on said track, said abutment being spaced from saidopening to permit the rst chart to move vertically therebetween,vertically movable elevator means including chart support meansextending along said upper track when said elevator is near its upperpoint of travel, said elevator means being driven by an electric motor,automatic means for energizing said motor at predetermined times, meansresponsive to the position of said elevator means for deenergizing saidelectric motor before said elevator means reaches the position at whichsaid first chart is at the rear of said upper track, upward projectionson said support means for lifting the first chart over said abutment forcausing it to descend between said abutment and said opening, a lowertrack spaced from the upper track and sloping downwardly and rearwardlyin said cabinet for engaging and guiding a chart to move to a rearwardposition on said chart support, said elevator means including means forconveying said chart upwardly and to the rear of said upper track.

3. The invention of claim 2, further comprising manual means forenergizing said motor, and means rendering said manual means or saidautomatic means operable to control said motor selectively.

. placed on said track, said abutment being spaced from said openingV topermit the rst chart to move vertically therebetween, vertically movableelevator means including chart support means extending along said uppertrack when said elevator is near its upper point of travel, upwardprojections on said support means for lifting the first chart over saidabutment for causing it to descend Vbetween said abutment and saidopening, a lower track spaced from the upper track vand slopingdownwardly and rearwardly in said cabinet for engaging and guiding achart to move to a rearward position on said chart support, saidelevator means including means for conveying said chart upwardly and tothe rear of said upper track, said upper t-rack and 'saidlower trackeach supporting and guiding the charts upon the lower edges of saidcharts, said chart supports supporting the under edge of said charts.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i1,179,490 Yaw Apr. 18, 1916 1,258,750 Davis Mar. 12, 1918 1,540,830Davis June 9, 1925 1,818,538 VDavis Aug. 11, 1931 2,102,798 JerabeliYDec. 21, 1937 2,122,782 Sandor July 5, 1938 2,131,168 EitzenA Sept. 27,1938 2,323,638 Wise July 6, 1943

